Me & Mr. Jones

“How are you this morning, Paige? I had a feeling you'd be first in line today.”

“I'm doing well. Of course, I wouldn't miss this for the world, Mrs. Bloom. I'm so delighted to be here!” The bookstore owner smiles, opening the door to my new paradise.

Stepping inside the cozy business, my eyes light up, gazing at the rows of novels. Each column holds new adventures, romantic sagas, and endless hours of complete and utter bliss.

Numerous others squeeze past me, anxiously awaiting to dive into their dream worlds while I'm caught in a daze. I've been waiting all month for Bloom’s Books to open!

Heading straight for the romance section, my fanciful feet get a little too far ahead of me and I bump into someone veering around the aisle corner, knocking my glasses to the floor.

“Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry!” I quickly apologize, bending down to find my glasses. I'm as blind as a bat without them.

A soft pair of hands brush over mine. “Here.” The deep voice sounds oddly familiar as his firm grip yanks me to my feet. His tousled black hair outlines the tip of him as he places my frames in my hand and I slide them back on my now pink-tinged complexion.

“Hi, Paige.”

“Calvin?” My surprised tone gives rise to the megawatt smile I once swooned over. “Wh--what are you doing here?”

“I have a book signing here this weekend. I wanted to come and check out the place beforehand.”

The familiar lump in my throat that seems to leave me tongue-tied whenever I'm around him makes its dreaded appearance.

Calvin Jones is one of the number one selling authors in the Fantasy genre. We met several years ago at one of his book signings in Ann Arbor, Michigan. I wasn't there specifically for him, but we met briefly after I got into a heated conversation with another reader on which one of Hutton Clarke's novels was our favorite. Calvin's interest seemed piqued by my extensive book knowledge and before I knew it we were having coffee and meeting on purpose.

I was utterly blown away that Calvin even took a second glimpse at me in all my nerdy glory. While most twenty-four-year-old single women are trying to find love, I discover it in novels. I've never been the social butterfly who meets men with ease. I'm awkward, geeky, and truthfully I've never been kissed...

“Right. Uhm… Well, sorry again for bumping into you. I won't take up any more of your spotlight.” I stroll past him and try to shake the resurfacing memories.

Mr. Jones and I had a thing going on about three years ago. His passion for words and my love for reading them. We felt like fire. A swirling flame where he and I weren't as different as I once choked the thought up to be. But ultimately, the anticipated shoe dropped. Reality sunk in and the egotistical author illuminated his true intentions.

“Wait, Paige. Can we grab a coffee and talk?”

Spinning around to meet Calvin's gaze, I acknowledge how the sincerity in his eyes tells me I can trust him, but my heart tells me to flee. “I can't, Calvin. I won't be used as another character study.” My truthful words cause him to reach out for my hand.

“Honestly, I didn't come here to scope out the place, Paige. I knew this was your hometown and I was hoping for a second chance?”

“I don't think you deserve it after what you put me through. You used me and then left without any remorse. I'm a real person, Calvin. I have real feelings and you crushed them by studying me for your book.”

Calvin encloses my hand with his other. The gentle motion gives birth to a desirable quiver I've never felt before. “I know it was foolish of me to leave as I did, Paige. But, I have a gift for you.”

Calvin releases his hands from mine and pulls out a book from his satchel.

“What’s this?”

“I realize the ways I went about getting to know you were wrong, Paige. I'm so ashamed it took me this long to ask for forgiveness, but I'm hoping the contents of this book will fulfill all your fantasies. The woman who was my muse for the story has most definitely helped me achieve mine.”

My fingers trace the hardcover novel before I open it up to the first page and read the dedication aloud:

“This book is dedicated to an extraordinary woman who not only was my inspiration for one of the main characters but who also elicited my heart. Paige, if someday you read this and find it in your heart to forgive me, I want you to know it was love at first sight for me. All those romantic tales you find yourself getting lost in. You were mine.”

Tears threaten to fall and a huge smile lights up my face. “I don't know what to say, Calvin. No one has ever done anything like this for me before. Are you sure this is meant for me?”

Calvin wipes my happy tears and strokes my cheeks. “I'm sorry I hesitated on getting here, Paige. There's something about the first day of Spring that makes you believe in new beginnings. I'm hoping this sentiment will be ours.”

Calvin looks deeply into my eyes and lures me in close. As if my body is hypnotized under the leafy green hue in his stare, I lean forward. His smooth lips brush against mine softly, delicately like butterfly wings just long enough to inhale his breath. Our kiss holds all the fire I once felt burning for him but also wields a trickling rain that leaves your senses in complete harmony. The type of kiss that makes you wonder if it's even real, it's so beautiful.

“Fresh start? I like the sound of that…”